In 3C we have been busy!
Language Arts
In writing we have been working on self monitoring/editing while writing. Students are asked to check for proper punctuation, capitalization, neat printing and complete sentences when writing. We have also started working on the concept of paragraph writing and staying on topic. Back and Forth writing is directed at this purpose; staying on topic about their week at school. We also recently wrote a paragraph about our heroes. Student paragraphs will be put into a book and the book will be circulated around the 3C families. Your child will have a chance to bring home the class book and I ask that you read through the students' work and then leave a little feedback on the pages provided. Please return the book the next day so that it can make it's journey to the next home. Thank you for your cooperation with this process.
We also started an exciting new year long project this week! Instead of me sending home a cd filled with class photos at the end of the year, the students are going to create their own personalized 3C Memory slideshow! We are using Google Slides to put together a few slides each month of our favourite highlights. I am sharing a photo folder each month with the students through Google Drive will all of our class photos. They will browse through the photos, choose a few favourites and create a slide including a title, the photo and a caption (2-5 sentences long). By the end of June, students will have their entire year digitally scrapbooked as a keepsake! We were all super excited working on this project today! I can't wait to see how they all turn out!
Reading instruction is given every day to every student during our read aloud time. Strategies are introduced and practiced at this time daily. For many students, that is all they need. They are already reading at or above grade level and have already developed many "great reader habits." Other students require additional support to be able to use strategies independently and to raise their confidence level. During one on one reading conferences, I talk to the student about their beliefs and feelings towards reading. We discuss what strategies they depend on and what they feel they need to work on. After listening to a student read for a few minutes, we discuss their strengths and areas that need some attention. We decide on a strategy or two to focus on for the next while and practice using the strategy together. During this time, I may dig a little deeper into a child's sight word vocabulary and phonological awareness. I have now read with each student at least once. This weekend I will be creating our conferencing schedule. Some students who require substantial support to reach their full potential as a reader will read with me up to three times a week, while others will touch base with me once or twice a month. Each student gets what time they need.
Math
We have been working on figuring out the pattern rule in number patterns and extending those patterns over the past two weeks. Students are now able to extend increasing and decreasing number patterns. Next, we will be looking at extending patterns using figures after identifying the "core" or repeating portion of the pattern.
Students have also been working on "How Many Ways?" to work on their number sense with various operations.
Social Studies
Students have been learning about the different components of maps: the title, the key, the scale and symbols. We will practice reading a variety of maps and following directions. Students will be redoing a map of their bedroom now that they understand the different components of a proper map.
Science
The first lesson that the students learned about rocks this year is that "rocks are heavy!" Carrying a backpack filled with rocks up the Lion's Park hill was exhausting! For the record, we warned them not to take any more rocks than was necessary! LOL!
After discovering a variety of rock treasures down at the river during our Rock Walk, the students are eager to start investigating their rocks. First we needed to discuss the term properties. We will be examining our rocks for many different properties over the next few weeks. We took the time to give our rocks a good wash so that we can clearly see their unique properties.
One of our students, Madeleine, has been generous enough to lend us her brand new rock tumbler and a variety of rock samples! The students were super excited to set the rock tumbler up and watch the transformation of the rocks! We loaded the barrel with 200g of rocks along with coarse grit and water. We tumbled the rocks for two days. Today we took a peek at the rocks after stage one...what a transformation! We can't wait to see what changes stage two will bring!
This was what the rocks looked like before we put them in the tumbler!
This is what the rocks looked like after two days of tumbling in course grit!
Our First Star Student
We had our first Star Student week this week! We really enjoyed getting to know Mr. J, a new student to RBES! We learned that he loves building with LEGO, martial arts and has a strong bond with his new dog. We enjoyed hearing from his Auntie about how awesome of a boy he is! All of his classmates describe him as nice, gentle, kind, hard working and fun!
If you have any questions about your child's Star Student week, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
A Big Surprise!
One last highlight of our week was getting our new desks! The students were so excited and surprised when they walked in on Monday morning! They eagerly found their new seats and quickly organized their pencils, erasers, markers and pencil crayons into their desks! To my surprise they weren't eager to move them out of rows and into groups or pods! They were all pumped to "finally be facing the front" that they've asked me to keep them in paired up rows! It's funny how we, as teachers, think we know what the students want...shared space in small groups...and what they really want is to sit in rows just like we did when we were kids! One of my favourite parts of my job is how much I learn from my students. Learning truly is a two way street in any classroom!
A Sad Goodbye
We were all sad to say goodbye to our little Mr. J today as he prepares to move to Newfoundland next week. The students and I prepared a little gift for him to show him how much we will miss him.
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| We will miss you! From OWL of us in 3C! |
Up and Coming...
Stay tuned next week for the start of our home reading program (it would have started this week but our photocopier was broken and I couldn't print the booklets), our spelling program and our first book order (I never send them out in September because I know, as a parent myself, how expensive September is).
SUTP orders are due after the Thanksgiving weekend so you have just over a week to collect your final orders.
I hope you all stay warm on this chilly weekend!
Take care.
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